In this blog post, I will summarize my academic efforts in politics and international relations, current affairs debate activities, homestay volunteer experiences, as well as my motivation for applying and future career plans during my high school years.
Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences
While attending a foreign language high school, I studied in the English department. While completing a specialized curriculum focused on English, I also continued my studies in general subjects. To prepare for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), I selected two Social Studies subjects, among which I preferred “Law and Politics” the most. As I have always been interested in social and current affairs, I frequently read newspapers and online news. Among the articles, I made a point of focusing on issues in the social, economic, and political sections to better understand how the country is governed and the current issues facing the National Assembly.
What I found particularly interesting while studying the “Law and Politics” course was how closely the reality I observed in news articles aligned with the explanations in the textbook. When learning about the concepts of democracy and the rule of law, I read opinion pieces by politicians and compared their views with the theoretical concepts. During local council elections, I broadened my understanding by following real-time news coverage alongside the “Political Participation and Elections” unit in my textbook.
I found it particularly interesting that the relationships between political parties, interest groups, and civic organizations covered in the textbook closely mirrored real-world examples. I frequently encountered news stories covering the relationship between public opinion and political parties, the claims and protests of interest groups, and the responses of civic organizations. I also visited protest sites near Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbokgung Palace to engage in hands-on learning about the Constitution and citizens’ rights. Learning in this way—by comparing theory with reality—broadened my perspective and developed my values, and it also enabled me to present my arguments logically during debates.
On-Campus Current Affairs Debate Activities
There was an event organized by an alliance of specialized high schools, in which we participated alongside other foreign language high schools from Seoul, Anyang, Gwacheon, Suwon, and other cities. Among these, the current affairs debate competition was the largest and most popular, and I formed a team with three friends who shared the same goal. When recruiting team members, I carefully considered how our overall judgments aligned while ensuring that our approaches to developing arguments and the areas of evidence we presented differed, allowing us to complement each other.
For example, while I had extensive knowledge of citizens’ fundamental rights, another team member excelled in constitutional and criminal law, making our team composition highly effective. Since the competition included both categories where basic materials were provided and those without a set topic, it was crucial to collect and analyze a wide range of topics. We immersed ourselves in analyzing current issues by referring to newspaper articles and books on current affairs. To improve our debating skills, we invited external instructors, took online courses, and sought advice from upperclassmen with debating experience.
For a specific practice topic—a debate for and against the gaming shutdown system—I argued against the policy from the opposing side. I pointed out the infringement of individual rights and the problem of generalizing parents’ perspectives, while also presenting arguments that acknowledged the positive aspects of gaming. In addition, we addressed current issues such as the abolition of the crime of adultery, freedom of expression on social media, the controversy over the reinstatement of the contribution-based college admissions system, the classification of concerts as harmful to minors, and the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in daycare centers, analyzing the key issues and practicing both sides of the argument. Through this process, we learned that the core of current affairs lies at the intersection of an individual’s right to self-determination and constitutional and general regulations. By supplementing our legal knowledge, our team secured third place overall at the school-wide debate competition.
Homestay Activities as a “Citizen Diplomat”
During my sophomore year, I saw a notice on the school bulletin board and applied to volunteer as a homestay host for foreign visitors coming to the Seoul metropolitan area during an international competition. The event was an international athletic competition consisting mainly of marathons and summer sports, and since it offered an opportunity to interact with foreigners during the event, I decided to participate in the homestay program.
After applying to be a host, I received guidance from the district office regarding volunteer compensation, insurance, volunteer credit accumulation, and foreign language interpretation support. However, as a student at a foreign language high school, I was confident in my ability to interpret directly in English, so I proceeded without an interpreter. One week prior to the event, I completed basic host training, a course on international understanding, and a language education program. During the three weeks of the competition, I hosted students and guided them through tourist attractions in Seoul and throughout Korea.
I communicated in English with a Chinese friend I met on-site and exchanged thoughts on various topics; I found it rewarding to be able to explain the characteristics, culture, and history of South Korea. As I guided visitors on the things they were curious about and wanted to experience in South Korea, I felt a sense of responsibility as a “citizen diplomat,” and this served as an opportunity to take another step forward in my growth as a future diplomat.
Motivation for Application and Academic/Career Plans After Enrollment
While attending a foreign language high school, I consistently prepared with the goal of becoming a diplomat and have consistently aspired to major in Political Science and International Relations for the past three years. Driven by a strong desire to study politics and international diplomacy, I decided to apply to the Department of Political Science and International Relations at a domestic university. I chose Kyung Hee University’s Department of Political Science and International Relations because I trusted its robust curriculum, which I learned about through upperclassmen.
After enrollment, I will manage my GPA rigorously starting in my freshman year to secure scholarships and opportunities to participate in various on-campus programs. To strengthen my international competencies, I plan to study abroad in the United States, where I intend to major in international politics. To this end, I will diligently prepare by maintaining my GPA, taking language courses, and gathering information on study abroad programs.
After returning from my study abroad, I intend to prepare for and pass the Foreign Service Examination, after which I aim to work at an international organization. My goal is to serve as a chairperson or international civil servant at organizations such as the UN, APEC, WTO, or OECD, professionally handling diplomatic affairs and critical tasks as a global talent from South Korea.
